Electric dry shaver

ABSTRACT

AN ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER CONSTRUCTION PROVIDING A SHEARING SECTION, A DRIVING SECTION CONNECTED TO THE SHEARING SECTION AND A CASING ENCLOSING THE DRIVING SECTION AND THE SHEARING HEAD, AND A LIFTING LEVER CONNECTED TO THE CASING FOR EFFECTING TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVING SECTION AND SHEARING HEAD WITHIN THE CASING. THE INVENTION ALSO PROVIDES A NOVEL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR IN THE SHAVER CASING WHICH ALSO SERVES AS A POWER SWITCH, AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION WITH THE SHAVER IS PROVIDED WITH AN INTERLOCK DISRUPTING POWER TO THE DRIVING SECTION WHEN THE LIFTING LEVER IS ACTUATED.

5, 1971 MINEHARU OMORI ETAL 3552,33

ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Filed March 28, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IEHU o 00 Eswozo 2 5c /5 mvsuo INVENTORS BY 44% y fiyfam ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1971MINEHARU QMQR| ETAL. 355,11

ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Filed March 28, 1968 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TTUOSHIGEATSU INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1971 MmEHARU QMQR] ETAL 3552,11

ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Filed March 28, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MINEHRU KOZOTEAY MA SHOZO R TAF'SUQ SHIGE /3/ INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,552,011 ELECTRIC DRY SHAVER Mineliaru Omori, Kozo Terayama,Shozo Matsubara, Tatsuo Shigematsu, and Gen Kido, Ibaraki-shi, Japan,assignors to Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Oazo Ushitora,

Ibaraki-shi, Osaka Prefecture, Japan Filed Mar. 28, 1968, Ser. No.716,912 Claims priority, application Japan, June 30, 1967, 42/ 41,992,42/41,993, 42/41,994, ll/56,448 Int. Cl. B26b 19/02 US. Cl. 30-4332Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric dry shaver constructionproviding a shearing section, a driving section connected to theshearing section and a casing enclosing the driving section and theshearing head, and a lifting lever connected to the casing for effectingtranslational movement of the driving section and shearing head withinthe casing. The invention also provides a novel electrical connector inthe shaver casing which also serves as a power switch, and theelectrical connection with the shaver is provided with an interlockdisrupting power to the driving section when the lifting lever isactuated.

This invention relates to an electric shaver and more particularly toimprovements in such device.

Electric shavers of this type have had the inherent disadvantage that,because the shearing head has to be disconnected from the case body forremoval of shavings, replacement of worn outer and inner blades, etc.,and

because the disconnection and reconnection of the shearing head requiresboth time and trouble, such operations, which must be performedperiodically, can be accomplished only with difliculty. In addition, therepetition of such operations tends to have adverse effects upon thetransmission mechanism between the shearing head and the drivingsection, eventually resulting in reduced shaving efiiciency andincreased noise.

Moreover, the conventional shavers are susceptible of being switched onby chance during the removal of shavings and replacement of bladesunless the power cord is pulled off beforehand from the plug socket forthe power supply. This is not only potentially dangerous to thosehandling the device but may lead to damage of the blades and drivingmechanism.

The present invention has for its object the elimination of theforegoing disadvantages by the provision of an electric razor having ashearing head which is protrudable from the case body so that theremoval of shavings and exchange of blades can be accomplished withease, and further, by the provision of a construction wherein thepossibility of the shaver being erroneously switched on during thecourse of such cleaning or replacement can be precluded.

An additional feature of the present invention relates to the provisionof a switching mechanism for actuating the shaver in combination withthe socket for the plug of the electrical power cord providingenergizing power to the shaver. In this way the need for protrudingswitches is obviated along with the need for a switch separate from andin addition to the power socket. This switching arrangement is alsoprovided in such a way that the shaver will be automatically switchedoff when placed down for support on its bottom surface.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anelectric shaver which eliminates or otherwise avoids the difiicultiesand disadvantages inherent in known devices of a similar nature.

Patented Jan. 5, 1971 ice It is another object of the present inventionto provide an electric shaver which includes means for facilitating thecleaning of the shaver and removal of the blade therein.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an electric shaverincluding means for automatically disconnecting the power thereto duringcleaning or repair without removal of the power cord.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an electricshaver having means for easily exposing the entire shaving head forcleaning and further means for facilitating the removal thereof from theshaver body for repair or replacement of parts.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an electricshaver which is simplified in construction through use of components formultiple functions.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electricshaver which is automically switched off when placed in an uprightposition on a support.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide anelectric shaver which is switched on and off through shifting of theplug of the power cord without disconnection thereof.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the invention when taken with the accompanying drawings,and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a shaver in accordance with theinvention showing essential parts in section;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing the essential parts insection with the shearing head protruding from the case;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the above embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the bottom of the shaver head;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the shaver with the head removed;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the essentialpart of the switching mechanism shown in the ON position;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IXIX of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the essentialpart of the switching mechanism shown in the OFF position.

The invention will now be more fully described in conjunction with theillustrated embodiment thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and2, the shaver embodying the present invention generally includes adriving section 1 and a shearing head 2 removably connected to thedriving section, both being accommodated in a casing 3. The particulartype of shaving head and drive section employed in the illustratedembodiment are only exemplary, the present invention being equallyapplicable to electric shavers having a different type of driving motoror a different type of shaving head than specifically disclosed herein.

The driving section 1 may consist of a generally U- shaped stator core4a formed of a plurality of laminations upon which is mounted aninsulating coil form having a conductor wound thereon to form anenergizing coil 41;. A pair of U-shaped support plates 21 and 22 betweenthe portions thereof spanning the free ends of the stator core 4a. Apivotable core member, also formed of a plurality of stackedlaminations, is pivotably mounted on the pin 5d, having its extreme endsspaced by a gap from the free ends of the stator core 4a. A vibrator arm5b is secured to the core element 5c and to a spring com bination (notshown) which preferably resiliently connects the vibrator arm 5b to oneor the other of the support plates 21 and 22 on either side thereof tofacilitate the vibrating action.

The driving section described consists of a typical vibrator arrangementwherein an alternating voltage sup ply to the coiled conductor 4b servesto oscillate the core member 50 about the pivot pin 5:! thereby drivingthe vibrator arm 5b with an oscillating or vibrating movement.

The vibrator arm 5]) of the driving section is provided with a couplingelement 5a extending into the shearing head 2 and into communicationwith a socket element 2b therein. The socket element 2b is secured tothe blade 2a, which is driven reciprocally by the vibrating arm 5b inthe well known manner.

A lifting driving plate 6 provided with a slot 7 is secured fixedly tothe coil form 40 at the bottom of the driving section 1. The slot 7 inthe driving plate 6 engages with a roll pin 12 connected to a liftinglever 11 pivotally connected to the removable bottom cover 3a of theshaver casing 3. In addition, lifting guide plates 8 and 9 are providedat either side of the driving section 1 for guiding the driving sectionduring upward and downward movements thereof within the casing 3resulting from actuation of the lever 11.

The lifting guide plates 8 and 9 are fixed to the support plates 21 and22 connected to the stator core 4a and are formed with pairs of ribs 13,13 and 14, 14', respectively, extending in the longitudinal directionthereof in such a way that each pair of these ribs fits securely in achannel defined by two pairs of longitudinal ribs 15, 15 and 16, 16'formed on the inner surface of the casing 3, as seen in FIG. 3, eachpair of which consists of ribs spaced a larger distance from each otherthan the ribs formed on the guide plates. Thus, the driving section andattached shearing head may be moved with a sliding action in thelongitudinal direction of the casing, but are prevented from transverseor lateral movement within the casing by the ribs suitably positioned onthe lifting guide plates and inner surface of the casing, respectively.

On both sides of the lifting lever 11 at the bottom of the casing, asocket 17 for a connection to a suitable power supply and a voltagechange-over switch 18 are provided in such a manner as to contact,respectively, a power terminal plate 19 and a voltage change-over strip20 which are both made of resilient material and are secured to thedriving section 1. In this way the available voltage of the power supplyis connected to the proper winding of the coil 4b via the socket 17 andthe power terminal plate 9 for selective energization of the drivingsection.

If the arm 11' of the lifting lever 11 is pressed down so as to beturned counter clockwise around the shaft 10, the roll pin 12 providedat the tip of the connecting rod on the side opposite to the arm 11 willmove along the surface of the slot 7 of the lifting driving plate 6effecting a camming action against the driving plate 6 so that thedriving section 1 to which the lifting driving plate 6 is secured andalso the shearing head 2 connected to the driving section will be forcedup as a units by the roll pin, the shearing head 2 being thereby exposedout of the case, as seen in FIG. 4. In this way the driving section 1will be guided upwardly in a smooth movement without transversevibration by virtue of the two pairs of ribs 13, 13' and 14, 14'provided on the lifting guide plates 8 and 9, which are indirectlysecured through the stator core 4a and the two pairs of ribs 15, 15 and16, 16' on the inner surface of easing 3. At the same time, by theupward movement of the driving sectional, the power terminal plate 19and the voltage change-over strip 20 will be urged away from the powersocket 17 and the voltage 4 change-over switch 18, thereby constitutinginterlock means cutting off the electrical connection from the powersource to the driving unit while the shearing head is exposed eventhough energizing voltage from the power source may be still connectedto the socket 17.

While the distance between the shaft of the lifting lever and the rollpin governs the surface area of the shearing head exposed out of thecase, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is generally not necessary to exposethe driving section 1 in addition to the shearing head. The distancebetween the shaft of the lifting lever and the roll pin may therefore befreely chosen in correlation with the length of the slot of the liftingdriving plate so as to produce the desired degree of exposure.

In the case where the bearing for the vibrator requires frequentlubrication with oil or grease, it is possible to expose the upperportion of the driving section 1 in order to permit ready oiling andgreasing at an advantage by removing the shearing head too. As is notedfrom FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrating respectively the bottom of the shearinghead and the exposed surface of the driving section, the shearing headis secured to the driving section through studs 23 engaging withcontoured apertures 24 in the shearing head 2. The studs 23', as seen inFIG. 1, serve to secure the assembly including the lifting guide plates8 and 9 to the support plate 22, which is in turn secured to the statorcore 4a. In addition, the studs 23 extend upwardly from the surface ofthe driving section 1 so as to protrude through the apertures 24 of theshearing section 2. The contour of the apertures 24 is such that thestuds 23 will freely pass through the enlarged portions thereofwhereupon the shearing head may be locked to the driving section byeffecting a clockwise turning thereof forcing the studs into the narrowportion of the aperture 24 so that the head of the studs effectivelylock the shearing head to the driving section.

It is therefore quite apparent that actuation of the lever 11 will causea longitudinal shifting of the driving section and attached shearingheads so as to expose the shearing head above the top of the casing 3.The shearing head may be then simply removed by a counter clockwisetwisting thereof until the studs 23 are shifted into alignment with thelarge portions of the apertures 24 thereby permitting easy removal ofthe shearing head. Once removed, the shearing head may be easily cleanedor repaired, and access is also provided at this time to the drivingsection 1 for purposes of lubrication or replacement of parts.

The shaving head is replaced simply by engaging the large portions ofthe apertures 24 by the respective studs 23 and twisting the shearinghead in the counter clockwise direction. If the arm 11' of the liftinglever 11 is then pressed upwardly after the removal of the shavings andreplacement of worn outer or inner blades, the driving section 1 in theshearing head 2 communicating therewith will be accommodated together inthe casing and, at the same time, the power terminal plate 19 and powersocket 17 will be brought into contact with each other and reset to thestate ready for use.

Although in the embodiment above described the relative vertical slidingmotions of the lifting guiding plates 8 and 9 and the case 2 areaccomplished smoothly by two pairs of ribs formed respectively thereon,it should be appreciated of course that it is possible to form a singlerib on each of the lifting guiding plates and one groove on the innersurface of the case, both in the longitudinal direction, so that theribs on the lifting guiding plates can fit in the groove on the innersurface of the case, or alternatively to form the ribs and groove on theopposite surfaces, in order to attain a vertical sliding effect withexactly the same smoothness as achieved by the embodiment abovedescribed.

As explained hereinabove, the electric razor according to the presentinvention has a shearing head which is raised protrudingly out of thecase or lowered to be accommodated therein by simply pressing up or downof a lifting lever, and therefore it offers ready access to the insideof the shearing head for example for the removal of shavings andreplacement of worn blades, and permits consistently stabilizedtransmission of driving power to the shearing head, which achieves anaccordingly stabilized shaving effect, and prevents development ofnoise. Moreover, as long as the shearing head is protruded out of thecase, the power socket is disconnected from the power terminal strip,and hence a very high degree of safety is gained because there is nopossibility of the razor being switched on by chance even through thepower cord is connected to the power supply.

The present invention also provides a novel switching mechanism for anelectric razor, and more specifically, as seen in the drawings, to aswitching mechansim of simplified construction which is combined withthe socket for the power supply. This feature of the invention will bemore fully described hereunder in conjunction with an embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in FIGS. 8 through10.

A power socket 17 is rotatably fitted to spindles 26, 26' of bearingpieces 25, 25' mounted on the bottom portion 3a of casing 3 and isprovided with a hollow interior 27 for receiving a plug 30. Powerterminal pins 28, 28' are provided for the power socket 4. Resilientpower terminal plates 19, 19 are connected to the winding 3b (FIG. 1) ofthe motor section 2 and fixedly secured thereto. A plug 30 connected toa power cord 31 engages with the pins 28 in the socket 17. The powerterminal pins 28, 28' are so designed that they contact the powerterminal plates 19, 19 when the power socket 17 is turned sidewise, thusswitching the razor off.

As noted above, the switching mechanism for the electric razor embodyingthe present device is such that the power socket 17 combines with aswitch and eliminates the necessity of providing a separate switch. Ifthe plug opening 27 is turned sidewise as the plug is pushed into thepower socket 17, then the electric razor will remain in the switched-offstate and hence may be left as it is on a holder provided on awash-basin or the like. In use the razor may be simply taken out of theholder or the like. The weight of the power cord 11 itself will then beapplied on the plug 10 thereby enabling the shaver to turn the plug withhis fingertip in order to switch on the razor.

We have shown and described one embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention. It is understood that the same is not limited theretobut is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to aperson skilled in the art and we, therefore, do not wish to be limitedto the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all suchchanges and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of theappended claims.

We claim:

1. An electric dry shaver comprising:

a shearing head including a perforated guard plate and a cutting membercooperating with said perforated guard plate to produce a shearingaction,

a driving section in engagement with said cutting member for drivingsaid cutting member with respect to said guard plate,

a casing enclosing said driving section and substantially all of saidshearing head,

actuating means associated with said casing and said driving section forselectively shifting said driving section and shearing head with respectto said casing to thereby expose said shearing head, and

power source means-for applying electrical power to said driving sectionfor operation thereof including first connector means secured to saiddriving section and second connector means secured to said casing and inelectrical engagement with said first connector means, said first andsecond connector means being electrically separated by actuation of saidactuating means producing relative movement between said casing and saiddriving section.

2. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 1 wherein said secondconnector means is provided as a female connector capable of engagementwith a male connector from without said casing.

3. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 2 wherein said firstconnector means is provided as a pair of spring members forced againstrespective electrical contacts on said female connector when saiddriving section is fully inserted in said casing.

4. An electric dry shaver comprising:

a shearing head including a perforated guard plate and a cutting membercooperating with said perforated guard plate to produce a shearingaction,

a driving section in engagement with said cutting member for drivingsaid cutting member with respect to said guard plate,

a casing enclosing said driving section and substantially all of saidshearing head,

actuating means associated with said casing and said driving section forselectively shifting said driving section and shearing head with respectto said casing to thereby expose said shearing head, and

power source means for applying electrical power to said driving sectionfor operation thereof including interlock means for automaticallyelectrically interrupting said application of electrical power to saiddriving section upon operation of said actuating means.

5. An electric dry shaver comprising:

a shearing head including a perforated guard plate and a cutting membercooperating with said perforated guard plate to produce a shearingaction,

a driving section in engagement with said cutting member for drivingsaid cutting member with respect to said guard plate,

a casing enclosing said driving section and substantially all of saidshearing head,

actuating means associated with said casing and said driving section forselectively shifting said driving section and shearing head with respectto said casing to thereby expose said shearing head, and

wherein said shearing head is secured to said driving section by meansof a pin and tapered slot arrangement whereby said shearing head may bedisengaged by rotation thereof about a longitudinal axis of the shaver.

6. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 2. wherein said femaleconnector is pivotally mounted on said casing for rotation between firstand second positions, said female connector having electrical contactsengaging said first connector means in said one position and beingspaced from said first connector means in said second position therebyadditionally serving as a power switch.

7 An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 6 wherein said casing isprovided with first guide means and said driving section is providedwith second guide means cooporating with said first guide means torestrict movement of said driving section within said casing to a singlelongitudinal direction.

'8. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 7 wherein said actuatingmeans includes cam means selectively actuatable to force apart saiddriving section and said casing.

9. An electric dry shaver as defined in claim 8 wherein said shearinghead is secured to said driving section by means of a pin and taperedslot arrangement whereby said shearing head may be disengaged byrotation thereof about a longitudinal axis of the shaver.

10. An electric dry shaver comprising:

a shearing head including a perforated guard plate 7 and a cuttingmember cooperating with said perpower source means for applyingelectrical power to forated guard plate to produce a shearing action,said driving section for operation thereof including a driving sectionin engagement with said cutting interlock means for automaticallyelectrically intermember for driving said cutting member with reruptingsaid application of electrical power to said spect to said guard plate,5 driving section upon operation of said actuating a casing enclosingsaid driving section and substanmeans.

tially all of said shearing head,

actuating means associated with said casing and said References Citeddriving section for selectively shifting said driving UNITED STATESPATENTS section and shearing head with respect to said casing 10 1 889986 12/1932 Ha Wood 269 233 to thereby expose said shearing head whereinsaid 3339276 9/1967 i 30 43 1 actuating means includes cam meansselectively actuatable to force apart said driving section and saidROBERT RIORDON, Primary Examiner casing and lever means pivotallyconnected to said casing for selectively actuating said cam means, 1GRAFEL Assistant Examiner said lever means including a lifting leverhaving a roll pin mounted at one end thereof and said carn meansincluding a driving plate having a cam sur- 30-42 face contacted by saidroll pin, and

